Method of working metal, metal body obtained by the method and metal-containting ceramic body obtained by the method

ABSTRACT

A method of working metal in which the microstructure of metal body is rendered fine to thereby enhance the strength, ductility or homogeneity thereof; a metal body obtained by the metal working method; and a metal-containing ceramic body obtained by the metal working method. In this metal working method, the deformation resistance of metal body or metal-containing ceramic body (hereinafter referred to simply as “metal body”) is lowered locally to thereby form low deformation resistance regions in the metal body, and shear deformation of the low deformation resistance regions is effected so as to fine the microstructure of metal body. In particular, the metal body is formed in unidirectionally drawn configuration so as to produce low deformation resistance regions crossing the metal body. Further, with respect to two non-low deformation resistance regions arranged to sandwich low deformation resistance region crossing the metal body, one non-low deformation resistance region is caused to have a relative position change to the other non-low deformation resistance region so as to effect shear deformation of the low deformation resistance region. The low deformation resistance regions can be moved along the direction of drawing of the metal body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of working a metal in whichthe microstructure of the body is rendered fine to thereby enhance thestrength, ductility or homogeneity thereof; a metal body obtained by themetal working method; and a metal-containing ceramic body obtained bythe metal working method.

It is well known that the microstructure of the metal-containingmaterial, such as a metal body or a metal-containing ceramic, isrendered fine by means of ECAP (Equal-Channel Angular Pressing) tothereby enhance the strength or ductility of the material.

With ECAP, as shown in FIG. 19, an insertion passage 200 is formed withpreset bending angle in the middle of a mold 100. A metal body 300 to beprocessed is pressed and inserted into the insertion passage 200,thereby the metal body 300 is bent along the insertion passage 200, andthe shearing stress is generated in the metal body 300 due to thebending, thus the shearing stress makes the microstructure fine. Thereference numeral 400 in FIG. 19 represents the plunger of the metalbody.

In such ECAP, in order to make the body 300 bend easily along theinsertion passage 200, the mold 100 is heated up to a presettemperature, thereby the whole metal body 300 is heated and accordinglythe deformation resistance thereof is reduced. However, if thedeformation resistance of the metal body 300 is greatly reduced,unwanted deformation will occur in the metal body 300, thus the heatingtemperature of the metal body 300 must be limited in a required minimumrange.

Furthermore, while heating the metal body 300 as described above, it isnecessary to use much more power to press the plunger 400, thus therewill be some problems such as the deterioration of processing property.A method of working metal material and the device thereof is disclosedin Japanese patent publication No. 2001-321825, in which a solution isproposed as follows: locally heating the shear deformation zone of thepassage applying the shear stress on the metal body in order to reducethe deformation resistance of the shear deformation region of the metalbody, therefore, it can reduce the power needed during pressing theplunger, thus to improve the processing property.

Furthermore, when the shear deformation zone is heated, the metal havingpassed the shear deformation zone still maintains a preset heatingtemperature, therefore the deformation resistance of the whole metalbody pushed outside of the insertion passage is reduced. If the metalbody is continuously passed through the insertion passage, for the sakeof the shearing stress acting repeatedly, it must take enough time tocool the metal body under the preset temperature so as to increase thedeformation resistance.

Therefore, it is very hard to perform the treatment by the ECAP methodin less than cooling time continuously, thus a problem of lowproductivity occurs.

With the ECAP, it is necessary to insert the metal body into the bendinginsertion passage. Therefore, there is a problem that it is verydifficult to render the microstructure of a portion of the metal bodyfine.

Furthermore, in the method of making a portion of the microstructure ofthe metal body fine, for example, disclosed in Japanese patentpublication No. 11-51103, a probe provided at an end of the rotor alongthe axis thereof is made to closely contact with the required positionand to press the metal body. The grain refinement of the metal isperformed by the friction with the probe through rotor rotating.

Nonetheless, the method using the friction with the probe is difficultto realize the treatment with a high efficiency, therefore, there is asame problem in that the productivity is very low as the case of usingthe ECAP method.

On the other hand, it is known that a method of mass manufacturing themetal body with the grain refinement microstructure is disclosed inJapanese patent publication No. 11-323481, in which low carbon steel orlow carbon alloy steel with preset components is processed by decreasingthe cross-section area 60% or more during the cooling course from hightemperature.

However, the metal body which can be processed by using aforesaid methodis only restricted to the low carbon steel or low carbon alloy steelwith special components. Therefore, there is a problem in that the metalbody with other components cannot use this method.

As stated above, during the process for forming of the metal body withhigh strength or high ductility by making the microstructure fine, theadvantages and the disadvantages are existed concurrently. At present,such kind of metal is only used for special purpose without caring forthe manufacturing cost, such as a luxury car or a fighter plane etc.

Under these circumstances, especially in vehicle industry, it is desiredto reduce the bodywork weight in order to optimize the burnup or improvethe driveability. Thereby, there is a huge demand, not only for luxurycar, but also for ordinary car, that the weight reduction must berealized by using the metal body with high strength or high ductilitythrough making the microstructure fine. Accordingly, a huge potentialdemand exists for a cheap metal body with high strength or highductility.

In view of such actual state, the present inventor has proceededresearch and development to work out the present invention. It is anobject to provide a metal body or metal-containing ceramic body withhigh strength or high ductility which can be continuously formed duringthe process for making the microstructure fine so that it is possible toimprove the productivity, and obtain a metal body or metal-containingceramic body with low cost.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a method of working a metal according to a first aspect of theinvention, a low deformation resistance region, which deformationresistance is locally reduced, is formed in a metal body, and the lowdeformation resistance region is subjected to shear deformation therebyto fine the microstructure of the metal body. Thereby, it is possible tomake the microstructure of low deformation resistance region fine whichis locally formed, and it is easy to form a metal body with highstrength or high ductility.

In the method of working a metal according to another aspect of theinvention, the whole region of said low deformation resistance region issubjected to said shear deformation. Thereby, the microstructure withgrain refinement can be formed homogeneously in the whole region of saidlow deformation resistance region.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, a portion of said low deformation resistance region issubjected to said shear deformation. Thereby, the shear deformationoccurs in a portion of the deformation resistance region, and it ispossible to make the microstructure of this portion remarkably fine,thus to improve the strength or the ductility of the metal.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, it comprises the steps of locally reducing the deformationresistance of a metal body extending in one direction; forming the lowdeformation resistance region crossing the metal body; and processingthe low deformation resistance region and making it shear deformation,thereby making the microstructure of said metal body fine. Thereby, itis possible to make the part of the low deformation resistance regionlocally formed fine, and it is easy to form a metal body with highstrength or high ductility.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, said shear deformation proceeds in the central area of saidlow deformation resistance region. Thereby, in the locally formed lowdeformation resistance region, it is possible to fine the microstructureof the center of the low deformation resistance region having a minimaldeformation resistance, thereby to improve the strength or ductility ofthe metal body.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, said shear deformation proceeds in the both ends of said lowdeformation resistance region. Therefore, the non-low deformationresistance region with high resistance can withstand the sheardeformation much more than the low deformation resistance region, thusthe large shear stress can act on the both ends of the low deformationresistance region, and it is possible to make the microstructureeffectively fine thereby to improve the strength or ductility of themetal body.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, said shear deformation proceeds at one end of said lowdeformation resistance region. Therefore, the non-low deformationresistance region with high resistance can withstand the sheardeformation much more than the low deformation resistance region, thusthe large shear stress can act on one end of the low deformationresistance region, and it is possible to make the microstructure fineeffectively thereby to improve the strength or ductility of the metalbody.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, said low deformation resistance regions are made to movealong the extending direction of the said metal body. Thereby, it isvery easy to make the microstructure of the whole metal body in onedirection fine, and at the same time, to continuously proceed the grainrefinement of the microstructure.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, it comprises the steps of locally reducing the deformationresistance of the metal body extending in one direction; forming the lowdeformation resistance region crossing the metal body; changing theposition of one non-low deformation resistance region relative to theother non-low deformation resistance region in said metal body betweenwhich the low deformation resistance region is sandwiched; processingthe low deformation resistance region and making it shear deformation,thereby making the microstructure of said metal body fine. Thereby, itis possible to make the microstructure of the locally formed lowdeformation resistance region fine, and it is easy to form a metal bodywith high strength or high ductility.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, said position change is caused by a vibration applied to saidmetal body in the direction approximately orthogonal to the extendingdirection of said metal body. Thereby, the shear deformation is easy tobe generated in the low deformation resistance region.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, said position change is caused by a compound motioncomprising a first vibration applied to said metal body along a firstdirection approximately orthogonal to the extending direction of saidmetal body, and a second vibration applied to said metal body along asecond direction approximately orthogonal to said first direction andthe said extending direction of the metal body. Thereby, the sheardeformation is easy to be generated in the low deformation resistanceregion, and it is possible to make a large shear stress act on the lowdeformation resistance region.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, said position change is caused by a twisting motion appliedto said metal body about a virtual axis of rotation approximatelyparallel to the said extending direction of the metal body. Thereby, theshear deformation is very easy to be generated in the low deformationresistance region.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, said low deformation resistance region is formed by heating ametal body by heating mechanism, said heating mechanism forms a heatingdistribution without taking said virtual axis of rotation region ascenter. Thereby, it is also possible to make the shear stress act on themicrostructure of the virtual axis of rotation region, and make thewhole of microstructure fine uniformly.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, one non-low deformation resistance region is caused todisplace relative to another non-low deformation resistance region alongthe direction approximately orthogonal to the extending direction ofaforesaid metal body. Thereby, it is also possible to make the shearstress act on the microstructure of the virtual axis of rotation region,and the whole microstructure fine uniformly.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, wherein a compression stress is acted on said low deformationresistance regions along the extending direction of the said metal body.Thereby, the deformation such as humps in the metal body, due to theshear deformation applied to the low deformation resistance region, isprevented, thereby it is possible to maintain the shape of the metalbody, and make the microstructure fine as well.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, wherein said low deformation resistance regions are formed byheating said metal body by the heating mechanism provided between afirst cooling mechanism and a second cooling mechanism. Thereby, it ispossible to adjust the width of the low deformation resistance region bythe first cooling mechanism and the second cooling mechanism, and theshear stress due to the shear deformation applied to the low deformationresistance region, can be increased by reducing the width of the lowdeformation resistance region, thus the microstructure is rendered fineeffectively.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, wherein said metal body is a plate body. Thereby, it is veryeasy to produce a plate-like metal with the grain refinement, which isdifficult to be produced by prior ECAP method.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, wherein said metal body is a plate body laminated withdifferent metal layers. Thereby, it is very easy to produce a plate-likemetal with the grain refinement, which is difficult to be produced byprior ECAP method, and form an alloy with different composition in thelaminated direction.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, wherein aforesaid metal body is a plate body made from amixing material including a first metal and a second metal. Thereby, itis possible to form an alloy in which the first metal and the secondmetal fixedly join together, and it is easy to form a alloy that thevarious prior methods of the metal alloy manufacturing are difficult toform.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, wherein aforesaid metal body is a hollow cylinder. Thereby,it is very easy to produce a hollow cylinder-like metal with the grainrefinement, which is difficult to be produced by prior ECAP method.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, wherein aforesaid metal body is a hollow cylinder laminatedwith different metal layers. Thereby, it is very easy to produce ahollow cylinder-like metal with the grain refinement, which is difficultto be produced by prior ECAP method, and form a hollow-cylinder alloywith different composition in the laminated direction.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, wherein aforesaid metal body is a hollow cylinder made from amixing material including a first metal and a second metal. Thereby, itis possible to form an alloy in which the first metal and the secondmetal fixedly join together, and it is easy to form an alloy, which theprior manufacturing methods of fusing the alloy with different metalsare difficult to form.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, wherein aforesaid metal body is a hollow cylinder and becomea plate body by cutting the circumference of the hollow cylinder afteraforesaid position change. Thereby, it is very easy to produce a hollowcylinder-like metal with the grain refinement, which is difficult to beproduced by prior ECAP method.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, wherein aforesaid metal body is a hollow cylinder laminatedwith different metal layers and become a plate body by cutting thecircumference of the hollow cylinder after aforesaid position change.Thus, it is very easy to produce a hollow cylinder-like metal with thegrain refinement, which is difficult to be produced by prior ECAPmethod, and form an alloy with different composition in the laminateddirection.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, wherein aforesaid metal body is a hollow cylinder made from amixing material including a first metal and a second material and becomea plate body by cutting the circumference of the hollow cylinder afteraforesaid position change. Thus, it is possible to form an alloy inwhich the first metal and the second metal fixedly join together, and itis easy to form an alloy, which the prior manufacturing methods offusing the alloy with different metals are difficult to form.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, wherein aforesaid metal body is a bar. Thus, it is very easyto produce a rod-like metal with the grain refinement, which isdifficult to be produced by prior ECAP method.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, wherein aforesaid metal body is a bar laminated withdifferent metal layers. Thus, it is very easy to produce a rod-likemetal with the grain refinement, which is difficult to be produced byprior ECAP method, and form a clubbed alloy with different compositionin the laminated direction.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, wherein aforesaid metal body is a bar made from a mixingmaterial including a first metal and a second metal. Thus, it ispossible to form an alloy in which the first metal and the second metalfixedly join together, and it is easy to form an alloy, which the priormanufacturing methods of fusing the alloy with different metals aredifficult to form.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, wherein aforesaid metal body is a bar made by at leastbundling a first metal wire and a second metal wire together. Thus, itis possible to form an alloying in which the first metal in addition thesecond metal fixedly join together, in addition, it is easy to form analloy, which the prior manufacturing methods of fusing the alloy withdifferent metals are difficult to form.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, it comprises the following steps: locally reducing thedeformation resistance of the metal body extending in one direction;forming a first low deformation resistance region and a second lowdeformation resistance region crossing the metal body with a presetinterval; and making said first low deformation resistance region andsaid second low deformation resistance region shear deformation, therebymaking the microstructure of the metal body fine. Thereby, the mechanismfor making the first low deformation resistance region and the secondlow deformation resistance region subject to shear deformation,respectively, is simplified, thus in the process of continuouslymanufacturing the metal, the microstructure can be made fine byproviding the first low deformation resistance region and the second lowdeformation resistance regions.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, wherein the non-low deformation resistance region sandwichedbetween said first low deformation resistance region and said second lowdeformation resistance region is caused to vibrate along the directionapproximately orthogonal to the extending direction of said metal body.Thereby, the shear deformation is very easy to be generated in the firstlow deformation resistance region and the second low deformationresistance region.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, wherein the non-low deformation resistance region sandwichedbetween said first low deformation resistance region and said second lowdeformation resistance region is caused to vibrate along a firstdirection approximately orthogonal to the extending direction of saidmetal body, and vibrate simultaneously along a second directionapproximately orthogonal to the extending direction of the metal bodyand the first direction, respectively. Thus, the shear deformation isvery easy to be generated in the first low deformation resistance regionand the second low deformation resistance region, at the same time, thelarge shear stress may act on the first and the second low deformationresistance regions.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, wherein the non-low deformation resistance region sandwichedbetween said first low deformation resistance region reach said secondlow deformation resistance region is caused to rotate about a virtualaxis of rotation approximately parallel to the extending direction ofsaid metal body. Thereby, the shear deformation is very easy to begenerated in the first low deformation resistance region and the secondlow deformation resistance region.

In the method of working a metal according to yet another aspect of theinvention, said the first low deformation resistance region and said thesecond low deformation resistance region are formed by heating up todifferent temperatures, respectively. Thereby, it is possible to makethe shear stresses generated in the first low deformation resistanceregion and the second low deformation resistance region different.Especially, in the case where the metal body is caused to move along theextending direction, the different shear stresses will act on the bodyin sequence, thus the microstructure is further rendered fine; thereforethe effect of further improving the strength or ductility of the metalbody is obtained.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention, alow deformation resistance region is formed by locally reducing thedeformation resistance temporarily, and microstructure with refinementgrain is obtained by making the low deformation resistance region sheardeformation. Thereby, it is possible to make the microstructure of thelocally formed low deformation resistance region fine, and it is easy toform a metal body with high strength or high ductility with low price.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention, thesaid shear deformation occurs in the whole of said low deformationresistance region. Thus, it is possible to provide the metal body inwhich the microstructure of the whole low deformation resistance regionis rendered fine uniformly.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention, saidshear deformation occurs in the portion of said low deformationresistance region. Thus, the shear deformation occurs in a portion ofthe low deformation resistance region, therefore, it is possible to makethe microstructure of this portion remarkably fine to provide a metalbody with improved strength or ductility.

In metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention, itextends in one direction, wherein a low deformation resistance regioncrossing the metal body is formed by locally reducing the deformationresistance temporarily, a shear deformation occurs in the lowdeformation resistance region thereby to make the microstructure of themetal body fine. Thereby, it is possible to make the microstructure ofthe locally formed low deformation resistance region fine, and it iseasy to form a metal body with high strength or high ductility with lowprice.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention, saidshear deformation occurs in the center of said low deformationresistance region. Thereby, in the locally formed low deformationresistance region, it is possible to make the microstructure of thecenter of the low deformation resistance region having a minimaldeformation resistance fine, thereby to provide a metal body withimproved strength or ductility.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention,wherein said shear deformation occurs at both ends of said lowdeformation resistance region. Therefore, the non-low deformationresistance region with high resistance can withstand the sheardeformation much more than the low deformation resistance region, thusthe large shear stress can act on the both ends of the low deformationresistance region, and it is possible to make the microstructureeffectively fine thereby to provide a metal body with improved strengthor ductility.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention, saidshear deformation occurs at one end of said low deformation resistanceregion. Therefore, the non-low deformation resistance region with highresistance can withstand the shear deformation much more than the lowdeformation resistance region, thus the large shear stress can act onone end of the low deformation resistance region, and it is possible tomake the microstructure effectively fine thereby to provide a metal bodywith improved strength or ductility.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention, saidlow deformation resistance region is made to displace along theextending direction of the said metal body. Thereby, it is very easy tomake the microstructure of the whole metal body fine in one direction,and in addition, to continuously provide the metal body with the grainrefinement microstructure.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention,extending in one direction, a low deformation resistance region crossingthe metal body is formed by locally reducing the deformation resistancetemporarily, which is sandwiched by non-low deformation resistanceregions, one of the non-low deformation resistance region is caused todisplace relative to the other non-low deformation resistance region,thus a shear deformation occurs in the low deformation resistanceregion, thereby the microstructure of metal body is rendered fine.Therefore, it is possible to make the microstructure of the locallyformed low deformation resistance region fine, and it is easy to form ametal body with high strength or high ductility with low price.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention, saiddisplacement is caused by a vibration applied to said metal body in thedirection approximately orthogonal to the extending direction of saidmetal body. Thereby, the shear deformation is very easy to be generatedin the low deformation resistance region, and the metal body with thegrain refinement microstructure can be provided.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention, saiddisplacement is caused by a compound motion comprising a first vibrationalong a first direction approximately orthogonal to the extendingdirection of said metal body, and a second vibration along a seconddirection approximately orthogonal to said first direction and the saidextending direction of the metal body. Thereby, the shear deformation isvery easy to be generated in the low deformation resistance region, atthe same time, it is possible to apply a large shear stress so as toprovide the metal body with the grain refinement microstructure.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention, saiddisplacement is caused by a twisting motion about the virtual axis ofrotation approximately parallel to the extending direction of said metalbody. Thereby, the shear deformation is very easy to be generated in thelow deformation resistance region, and the metal body with the grainrefinement microstructure can be provided.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention, saidlow deformation resistance region is formed by heating said metal bodyby means of heating mechanism, and said heating mechanism provides aheating distribution without taking said virtual axis of rotation regionas center. Thereby, it is also possible to make the shear stress act onthe region near the virtual axis of rotation of metal body, and providethe metal body in which the whole microstructure is rendered fineuniformly.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention, onesaid non-low deformation resistance region is caused to displacerelative to another said non-low deformation resistance region along thedirection approximately orthogonal to the extending direction of saidmetal body. Thereby, it is also possible to make the shear stress act onthe region near the virtual axis of rotation of metal body, andaccordingly, provide the metal body in which the whole microstructure isrendered fine uniformly.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention, acompression stress is caused to act on non-low deformation resistanceregion along the extending direction of the said metal body. Thereby,the deformation such as humps in the metal body due to the sheardeformation applied to the low deformation resistance region, isprevented, thereby it is possible to maintain the shape of the metalbody, and provide a metal body with the grain refinement microstructure.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention, saidnon-low deformation resistance region is formed by heating said metalbody by means of the heating mechanism provided between a first coolingmechanism and a second cooling mechanism. Thereby, it is possible toadjust the width of the low deformation resistance region by the firstcooling mechanism and the second cooling mechanism, and the shear stressdue to the shear deformation applied to the low deformation resistanceregion, can be increased by reducing the width of the low deformationresistance region, thus the metal body is rendered fine effectively.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention, saidmetal body is a plate shape. Thereby, it is very easy to produce aplate-like metal with the grain refinement microstructure, which isdifficult to be produced by prior ECAP method.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention,wherein aforesaid metal body is a plate body laminated with differentmetal layers. Thereby, it is very easy to produce a plate-like metalwith the grain refinement microstructure, which is difficult to beproduced by prior ECAP method, at the same time, to provide an alloywith different composition in the laminated direction.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention,wherein aforesaid metal body is a plate body made from a mixing materialincluding a first metal and a second metal. Thereby, it is possible toform an alloy in which the first metal and the second metal fixedly jointogether, and it is easy to form an alloy, which the prior manufacturingmethods of fusing the alloy with different metals are difficult to form.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention,wherein aforesaid metal body is a hollow cylinder. Thereby, it is veryeasy to produce a hollow metal body with the grain refinementmicrostructure, which is difficult to be produced by prior ECAP method.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention,wherein aforesaid metal body is a hollow cylinder laminated withdifferent metal layers. Thereby, it is very easy to produce a hollowmetal body with the grain refinement microstructure, which is difficultto be produced by prior ECAP method, and provide a hollow-cylinder alloywith different composition in the laminated direction.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention,wherein aforesaid metal body is a hollow cylinder made from a mixingmaterial including a first metal and a second metal. Thereby, it ispossible to form an alloy in which the first metal and the second metalfixedly join together, and it is easy to form an alloy, which the priormanufacturing methods of fusing the alloy with different metals aredifficult to form.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention,wherein aforesaid metal body is a hollow cylinder and become a platebody by cutting the circumference of the hollow cylinder after onenon-low deformation resistance region has a position change relative toanother non-low deformation resistance region. Thereby, it is possibleto provide a plate metal body with the grain refinement microstructure,which is difficult to be produced by prior ECAP method.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention,wherein aforesaid metal body is a hollow cylinder laminated withdifferent metal layers and become a plate body by cutting thecircumference of the hollow cylinder after aforesaid position change.Thereby, it is very easy to produce a plate metal body with the grainrefinement microstructure, which is difficult to be produced by priorECAP method, in addition, provide an alloy with different composition inthe laminated direction.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention,wherein aforesaid metal body is a hollow cylinder made from a mixingmaterial including a first metal and a second material and become aplate body by cutting the circumference of the hollow cylinder afteraforesaid position change. Thereby, it is possible to form an alloy inwhich the first metal and the second metal fixedly join together, and itis easy to form an alloy, which the prior manufacturing methods offusing the alloy with different metals are difficult to form.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention,wherein aforesaid metal body is a bar. Thereby, it is very easy toproduce a rod-like metal body with the grain refinement microstructure,which is difficult to be produced by prior ECAP method.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention,wherein aforesaid metal body is a bar laminated with different metallayers. Thereby, it is very easy to produce a rod-like metal body withthe grain refinement microstructure, which is difficult to be producedby prior ECAP method, in addition, provide a clubbed alloy withdifferent composition in the laminated direction.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention,wherein aforesaid metal body is a bar made from a mixing materialincluding a first metal and a second metal. Thereby, it is possible toform an alloy in which the first metal and the second metal fixedly jointogether, and it is easy to form an alloy, which the prior manufacturingmethods of fusing the alloy with different metals are difficult to form.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention,wherein aforesaid metal body is a bar made by at least bundling a firstmetal wire and the second metal wire together. Thereby, it is possibleto form an alloy in which the first metal and the second metal fixedlyjoin together, in addition it is easy to form an alloy, which the priormanufacturing methods of fusing the alloy with different metals aredifficult to form.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention,which extends in one direction, a first low deformation resistanceregion and a second low deformation resistance region crossing the metalbody with a preset interval are formed by locally reducing thedeformation resistance temporarily forms, and the microstructure of themetal body with grain refinement is obtained by making said first lowdeformation resistance region and said second low deformation resistanceregion suffer to shear deformation. Thereby, the mechanism issimplified, which makes the first low deformation resistance region andthe second low deformation resistance region subjected to sheardeformation, respectively. Thus during the process of continuouslyprocessing the metal, the microstructure is made fine by providing thefirst low deformation resistance region and the second low deformationresistance region, accordingly, the metal body with such microstructurecan be provided.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention, anon-low deformation resistance region sandwiched between said first lowdeformation resistance region and said second low deformation resistanceregion is caused to vibrate along the direction approximately orthogonalto the extending direction of said metal body. Thereby, the sheardeformation is very easy to be generated in the first low deformationresistance region and the second low deformation resistance region, themetal body with the grain refinement microstructure can be provided.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention, anon-low deformation resistance region sandwiched between said first lowdeformation resistance region and said second low deformation resistanceregion is caused to vibrate along a first direction approximatelyorthogonal to the extending direction of said metal body, at the sametime vibrate along a second direction approximately orthogonal to theextending direction of the metal body and the first direction. Thereby,the shear deformation is very easy to be generated in the first lowdeformation resistance region and the second low deformation resistanceregion, and it is possible to the metal body in which a large shearstress is applied to make the microstructure fine.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention, anon-low deformation resistance region sandwiched between said first lowdeformation resistance region reach said second low deformationresistance region is caused to rotate about a virtual axis of rotationapproximately parallel to the extending direction of said metal body.Thereby, the shear deformation is very easy to be generated in the firstlow deformation resistance region and the second low deformationresistance region, the metal body with the grain refinementmicrostructure can be provided.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention, saidthe first low deformation resistance region and said the second lowdeformation resistance region are formed by heating up to differenttemperatures, respectively. Thereby, it is possible to make the shearstresses generated in the first low deformation resistance region andthe second low deformation resistance region different. Especially, inthe case where the metal body is caused to move along the extendingdirection, the different shear stresses will act on the metal body insequence, thus the microstructure is further rendered fine; thereforethe metal body with further improved strength or ductility is provided.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention,wherein aforesaid metal body is a vehicle part. Thereby, the weight ofvehicles using the vehicle part can be reduced, and it is of benefit toreducing the fuel consumption.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention, saidmetal body is any one of the following: Sputter target material,magnetic body, shape memory alloy, metal hydride, vibration dampingalloy, electrothermal material, biological material, ship parts,aircraft components, parts of the load-carrying equipments exceptvehicles, building construction members. Thereby, it is possible toimprove the processing property of these products, and in the case of alarge volume part, the weight thereof can be reduced, especially, whenit is used for sputter target material, the more uniform metal film canbe formed.

In the metal-containing body according to yet another aspect of theinvention, which extends in one direction, a low deformation resistanceregion crossing the metal-containing body is formed by locally reducingthe deformation resistance temporarily, which is sandwiched by non-lowdeformation resistance regions, one of the non-low deformationresistance region is caused to displace relative to the other non-lowdeformation resistance region, thus a shear deformation occurs in thelow deformation resistance region, thereby the microstructure of metalbody is rendered fine. Thereby, it is possible to provide ametal-containing ceramic body in which the metal components and thenon-metal components are firmly and uniformly joined.

In the metal body according to yet another aspect of the invention,wherein said displacement is caused by a twisting motion applied to themetal-containing body about a virtual axis of rotation approximatelyparallel to the said extending direction of the metal-containing body.Thereby, it is also possible to make the shear stress act on the regionabout the virtual axis of rotation of the metal-containing body, andtherefore, a metal-containing ceramic body in which the metal componentsand the non-metal components are firmly and uniformly joined.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic section of a metal body;

FIG. 2 is a schematic section of a metal body;

FIG. 3 is a schematic section of a metal body;

FIG. 4 is a schematic section of a metal body;

FIG. 5 is explanatory drawing of shear deformation generated in the lowresistance region;

FIG. 6 is explanatory drawing of shear deformation generated in the lowresistance region;

FIG. 7 is explanatory drawing of shear deformation generated in the lowresistance region;

FIG. 8 is explanatory drawing of shear deformation generated in the lowresistance region;

FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory drawing of SVSP device;

FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory drawing of one example of STSPdevice;

FIG. 11 is electron micrograph of the microstructure before treatment bySTSP device;

FIG. 12 is electron micrograph of the microstructure after treatment bySTSP device;

FIG. 13 is a curve diagram of physical property change when themicrostructure is rendered fine in S45C;

FIG. 14 is a curve diagram of physical property change when themicrostructure is rendered fine in A1506;

FIG. 15 is a schematic section of a metal body;

FIG. 16 is schematic explanatory drawing of one modified example of STSPdevice;

FIG. 17 is a schematic explanatory drawing of a bodywork frame;

FIG. 18 is a schematic explanatory drawing of a bodywork frame; and

FIG. 19 is a reference drawing for explaining the ECAP;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, in the metal working method, themetal body produced by such method, the metal-containing ceramic bodyproduced by such method and the sputter target material produced by suchmethod, the microstructure of the body is rendered fine to therebyenhance the strength, or ductility, and especially in the case of themetal-containing ceramic body, to enhance the homogeneity thereof.

In the metal body or metal-containing ceramic body, the body is deformedpartly to reduce the deformation resistance, thus to obtain lowdeformation resistance regions, and the intensity strain is obtained bymaking the low deformation resistance regions get shear deformationpartly, so as to make the microstructure fine.

Especially, in the low deformation resistance regions produced partly asabove, the shear stress concentration is formed in the low deformationresistance regions due to the shear deformation resulted from fining themicrostructure, therefore, it is possible to make the microstructurefine effectively.

The technical term “low deformation resistance regions” herein isreferred to the regions which are obtained by heating the metal body ormetal-containing ceramic body to reduce the deformation resistance andwhich are easier to deform under the outside force than other regions.For the purpose of illustration, the other regions are called as non-lowdeformation resistance regions.

The low deformation resistance regions are obtained not only by heating,but also by mounting some limiting elements surrounding the metal bodyhaving preset temperature to obtain the non-low deformation resistanceregions, whereas other regions without limit elements are acted as thelow deformation resistance regions.

In addition, the metal body is made of one kind of metal, an alloyincluding two or more kinds of metal, or an intermetallic compoundincluding the metal elements and the non-metal elements. In the case ofthe intermetallic compound, the intermetallic compound herein is calledas metal-containing ceramic in order to make it clear. Hereafter, saidmetal body includes the metal-containing ceramic except for mentionedparticularly.

It is not necessary for the metal body to be made integrally. In theschematic section view of the metal body as shown in the FIG. 1, thelaminated body 10 of the metal body is obtained as follows: the secondmetal layer 12 is laminated to the first metal layer 11, and the thirdmetal layer 13 is laminated to the second metal layer 12. In this case,it is possible if the first metal layer 11, the second metal layer 12,and the third metal layer 13 are the preset metal or the preset metalalloy respectively. The first metal layer 11, the second metal layer 12,and the third metal layer 13 may form the laminated body 13 bylaminating, or by plating, coating by vaporization and pressure weldingand so on. Herein, the number of the layers of the laminated body 10 isnot limited to three, and may be changed if desired.

Alternatively, in the schematic section view of the metal body of FIG.2, the metal body may be formed by calcining a compound body mixed bythe first metal powder 14 and the second metal powder 15 to get acalcining body 16 in a preset shape. Here, the calcining body 16 may beformed from not only the powder comprising of the first metal powder 14and the second metal powder 15, but also several kinds of powder; thecalcining body 16 may formed from not only metal powder, but alsonon-metal powder.

As shown in the schematic section view of FIG. 3, alternatively, themetal body may be the filler 19, which is formed by filling the metalpowder 18 into the hole part of the porous body 17 in predeterminedshape. In addition, the porous body 17 may be filled with not only themetal powder 18, but also the non-metal powder.

Alternatively, in the schematic section view of the metal body of FIG.4, the metal body may be formed by bundling a plurality of first metalwires 21 and a plurality of second metal wires 22 together to obtain thewire bundle 23. In this case, the metal body may be formed not only bybundling the first metal wires 21 and the second metal wires 22 bothtogether, but also by bundling more metal wires to obtain the wirebundle 23.

As stated above, the metal body may be in any form, as long as themicrostructure can be rendered fine by shear deformation stated asfollows.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, the cross section of the metal body is a rectangular,and in FIG. 4, the cross section of the metal body is circular. But themetal body is not limited to the cuboid with the rectangular crosssection, or the bar with circular cross section, but it may be platebody or tube-like body with hollow, and it may be, for example, H typesteel, angle steel, channel steel, T-type steel, corrugated steel and soon.

The metal body extends in one direction, as shown in FIG. 5, so as toproduce low deformation resistance regions 30 by laterally bending themetal body, thereby obtain a first non-low deformation resistanceregions 31 and a second non-low deformation resistance regions 32 spacedby the low deformation resistance region 30.

In this way, the low deformation resistance region 30 is produced bylaterally bending the metal body in the extending direction, the lowdeformation resistance region 30 is caused to move along the directionof extending direction of the metal body, at the same time, the lowdeformation resistance region 30 is caused to be subjected to sheardeformation, thereby it can carry out the fining treatment of themicrostructure continuously.

In addition, the multifunction of the metal body can be realized byadjusting the shear deformation state of the low deformation resistanceregion 30 to produce several regions with different microstructurefining level.

As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the shear deformation of the low deformationresistance region 30 is generated by making the second non-lowdeformation resistance region 32 to vibrate relative to the firstnon-low deformation resistance region 31 in the thickness direction ofthe metal body, or, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), in the width directionorthogonal to the thickness direction of the metal body, instead of inthe thickness direction of the metal body. As shown in FIG. 5 (c), thecompound vibration may be obtained by combining the vibration in thethickness direction with the vibration in the width direction. If thecompound vibration is adopted, a larger shear stress will act on thedeformation resistance region.

In addition, when the metal body is a broader plate, it is not necessaryto laterally bend the metal body to form the low deformation resistanceregions, but the low deformation resistance regions may be formed in therequired regions of the metal body. Making the low deformationresistance regions to have shear deformation, to thereby fine themicrostructure of a portion of the metal body, can form a high strengthor a high ductility region.

Furthermore, when the metal body is round bar or hollow cylinder, asshown in FIG. 6, it is possible to make the second non-low deformationresistance region 32′ to twist with respect to the first non-lowdeformation resistance region 31′ about the virtual axis of rotationapproximately parallel to the extending direction of the metal body,thus to cause the low deformation resistance region 30′ to have sheardeformation. In this case, the second non-low deformation resistanceregion 32′ can either always rotate with a predetermined angularvelocity relative to the first non-low deformation resistance region31′, or rotate in positive direction and in negative directionalternatively.

The amount of the vibration or twisting motion of the first non-lowdeformation resistance regions 31, 31′ relative to the second non-lowdeformation resistance regions 32, 32′ does not need enough, so as itcan cause the low deformation resistance region 30, 30′ to produce sheardeformation, thereby to cause the microstructure to fine.

When the low deformation resistance regions 30, 30′ is caused to besubjected to shear deformation, it is possible to suppress the largershape deformation produced in the low deformation resistance regions 30,30′, or breaking produced in the portion of the low deformationresistance regions 30, 30′, by compression stress acting on the lowdeformation resistance regions 30, 30 along the extending direction ofthe metal body.

In this way, by means of the shear deformation in the low deformationresistance region, not only is the microstructure of the low deformationresistance region caused to be fined, but also the microstructure in thewhole metal body shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 can be joined together to producea new alloy or ceramic. Especially, there is an advantage in that it ispossible to produce mechanically a new alloy, which cannot be producedby fusion method.

When the low deformation resistance region are caused to have sheardeformation as mentioned above, alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, inthe metal body extending along one direction, the first low deformationresistance region 30 a and the second low deformation resistance region30 b spaced with a preset interval are produced to make the metal bodylateral bend, and the region sandwiched between the first lowdeformation resistance region 30 a and the second low deformationresistance region 30 b is called middle non-low deformation resistanceregion 33. It is very easy to make the first low deformation resistanceregion 30 a and the second low deformation resistance region 30 b haveshear deformation by the vibration of the middle non-low deformationresistance region 33.

In this case, the metal body in FIG. 7 is a plate. In FIG. 7 (a), thenon-low deformation resistance region 33 is caused to vibrate along thethickness direction of the metal body; In FIG. 7(b), the middle non-lowdeformation resistance region 33 is caused to vibrate along the widthdirection orthogonal to the thickness direction of the metal body; And,in FIG. 7(c), the middle non-low deformation resistance region 33 iscaused to vibrate synthetically by combining the vibration in thethickness direction with the vibration in the width direction.

When the metal body is a round bar or a hollow cylinder, as shown inFIG. 8, the region, sandwiched between the first non-low deformationresistance region 30 a′ and the second non-low deformation resistanceregion 30 b′ spaced with a preset interval, is caused to rotate aboutthe virtual axis of rotation approximately parallel to the extendingdirection of the metal body, whereby it is very easy to cause the firstlow deformation resistance region 30 a′ and the second low deformationresistance region 30 b′ to have shear deformation. The reference numeral34 in FIG. 8 represents a rotation roll for rotating the middle non-lowdeformation resistance region 33′.

Also in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the metal body moves along the extendingdirection, the positions of the first low deformation resistance region30 a′ and the second low deformation resistance region 30 b′ of themetal body can change.

As a result, in the continuous manufacturing process of the metal body,the first non-low deformation resistance region 30 a′ and the secondnon-low deformation resistance region 30 b′ are produced in the metalbody, and the middle non-low deformation resistance regions 33, 33′ arecaused to vibrate or rotate, whereby it is very easy to cause the metalbody to have shear deformation, thereby the metal body with highstrength or high ductility can be produced with low cost by fining themicrostructure.

Especially, the first non-low deformation resistance regions 30 a, 30 a′and the second non-low deformation resistance regions 30 b, 30 b′ areproduced by heating the metal body, respectively, and the first non-lowdeformation resistance regions 30 a, 30 a′ and the second non-lowdeformation resistance regions 30 b, 30 b′ are heated with differentheating temperature, thus the shear stress thereof are different, andthe different shear stress is caused to act on the metal body in twostages, therefore, it is possible to further make the microstructurefine.

Additionally, when the portion of the microstructure for grainrefinement is subjected to shear deformation again after once sheardeformation, the heating temperature of the metal body can be reduced tothereby make the microstructure fine further.

In addition, not only does the shear stress act on the microstructure intwo stages, but also the multi-middle non-low deformation regions 33,33′ are provided along the extending direction of the metal body, andthe shear stress is applied in multistage. In particular, in the case ofthe metal-containing ceramic body, every time, the shear deformation isproceeded with different condition so as to increase the homogeneity.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described.

FIG. 9 shows a device for producing the low deformation resistanceregions in the metal body by vibrating. The present inventor calls themethod, in which the low deformation resistance regions are subjected toshear deformation to thereby fine the microstructure, as SVSP (SevereVibration Straining Process). FIG. 9 shows a schematic explanatorydrawing of one example of SVSP Device. For the sake of explanation, themetal body M1 is supposed to be a square rod body extending in onedirection, or it may be other shape.

In SVSP device, a fixing section 41, a shear deformation section 42 anda vibration section 43 are provided on the base 40 along the extendingdirection of the metal body M1.

The first limiting body 44 and the second limiting body 45 are providedon the fixing section 41 along the extending direction of the metal bodyM1. The first limiting body 44 limits the metal body M1 fed along theextending direction to move in width direction, and the second limitingbody 45 limits the metal body M1 fed along the extending direction tomove in thickness direction, so the metal body is held movably forwardand backward.

In other words, in the first limiting body 44, the first contact roll 44a and the second contact roll 44 b are rotatably supported by thesupporting body 45 a respectively to fixedly hold the metal body M1.

Furthermore, a lower roll 45 c under the metal body M1 and an upper roll45 d above the metal body M1 are rotatably mounted between the firstsupporting body 45 a and the second supporting body 45 b of the secondlimiting body 45 for holding the metal body M1, and the rolls 45 c, 45 dare used to fixedly hold the metal body M1.

In addition, the lower roll 45 c and the upper roll 45 d may rotate thefirst contact roll 44 a and the second contact roll 44 b of the firstlimiting body 44 by means of a suitable drive unit, thus to act as afeed unit for feeding the metal body M1. The reference numeral 46 inFIG. 9 represents a guide roll for aiding to the feeding of the metalbody M1.

A vibration supplier 47 and a vibration propagation suppresser 48 areprovided in the vibration section 43 along the extending direction ofthe metal body M1. The vibration supplier 47 provides the metal body M1with preset vibration, and the vibration propagation suppresser 48serves to suppress the propagation of the vibration along the metal bodyM1.

The vibration supplier 47 comprises an ultrasonic vibrating body 49under the metal body M1 and a transmitting unit 50 mounted on the outputshaft 49 a of the ultrasonic vibrating body 49. The transmitting unit 50comprises a lower roll 50 a under the metal body M1 and an upper roll 50b above the metal body M1 mounted on the U-shape supporting bracket 50c, and the metal body M1 is held by the lower roll 50 a and the upperroll 50 b.

In addition, the transmitting unit 50 vibrates up and down with presetamplitude and preset frequency by the ultrasonic vibrating body 49, thusto make the metal body M1 vibrate up and down. In the presentembodiment, the vibration can be generated either by the ultrasonicvibrating body 49 or by some devices other than the ultrasonic vibratingbody 49, such as a linear motor or a piezoelectric element etc.

The vibration amplitude supplied to the metal body M1 by the ultrasonicvibrating body 49 does not need to be so large, so as it can cause themicrostructure of the low deformation resistance region 30 in the metalbody M1 to fine by use of shear deformation. Basically, the minimalrequired amplitude depends on the grain diameter of the microstructureof the metal body M1 and the width of low deformation resistance region30 in the extending direction of the metal body M1.

The larger amplitude which is generated by the ultrasonic vibrating body49 is, the more the microstructure is rendered fine, but in the case ofthe larger amplitude, the deformation may be difficult to recover in thelow deformation resistance region 30, accordingly, it is preferable touse the maximal amplitude, which can not cause the unrecovereddeformation (plastic deformation), to make the metal body M1 vibrate.

The so-called non-recovered deformation herein is such deformation inwhich the low deformation resistance region 30 can recover its originalshape before the vibration in a half cycle of vibration. And theso-called unrecovered deformation herein is such deformation in whichthe low deformation resistance region 30 unable to recover its originalshape before vibration in a half cycle of vibration.

The vibration frequency supplied to the metal body M1 by the ultrasonicvibrating body 49 is required as follows: before having the strain, dueto the displacement generated in the low deformation resistance region30 by the vibration, is compensated by the strain generated in the metalbody M1, or by the recrystallization of the microstructure, thefrequency can cause the displacement other than the previousdisplacement, that is, the displacement in negative direction or indifferent direction, to thereby cause strain. The frequency is set aslarge as possible. In addition, the vibration supplied to the metal bodyM1 is not necessarily a high-frequency vibration, but it may be, forexample, frequency in which the time of the low frequency vibration isrelatively shorter merely, just like the half cycle of vibrationsupplied to the low deformation resistance region 30.

The so-called lower frequency herein is the vibration frequency whichuses the following duration as ¼ period, said duration is, during thetime before the compensate effect of said metal body M1 or therecrystallization effect of the microstructure begins to effect on thestrain generated from the displacement in the low deformation resistanceregion 30, the maximum duration that the low frequency vibration cangenerate the strain due to the next displacement.

The vibration propagation suppresser 48 has the same structure as thesaid the second limiting body 45. A lower roll 48 c under the metal bodyM1 and an upper roll 48 d above the metal body M1 are rotatably mountedbetween the first supporting body 48 a and the second supporting body 48b for holding the metal body M1, and the rolls 48 c, 48 d are used tofixedly hold the metal body M1. The vibration propagation suppressersuppresses the vibration supplied to the metal body M1 by vibrationsupplier 47, thus not to propagate along the metal body M1.

The shear deformation section 42 comprises a heating unit 51 for heatingthe metal body M1 to a preset temperature and cooling unit 52. Thecooling unit 52 cools the metal body M1 in order to make the lowdeformation resistance regions, which are produced by the heating of theheating unit 51 in the metal body M1, be within preset temperaturerange.

In the present embodiment, the heating unit 51 comprises a highfrequency heating coil which winds around the metal body M1 with presetnumber of turns. Heating the metal body M1 to a preset temperature toreduce the deformation resistance produces the low deformationresistance region 30. In addition, the heating unit 51 is not limited tothe high frequency heating coil, or it may use electron beam, plasma,laser, electromagnetic induction etc to heat, or use gasses burner toheat, or use electricity short circuit to heat. Especially, when theelectron beam is used as heating unit 51, it is possible to make thewidth of the low deformation resistance region 30 in the extendingdirection of the metal body M1 very small, and make the larger shearstress act on the low deformation resistance region 30, accordingly, itis possible to make the microstructure fine further.

The cooling unit 52 comprises a first water outlet 52 b and a secondwater outlet 52 c for discharging the water from the water supply pipe52 a, and the water discharging from the first water outlet 52 b and thesecond water outlet 52 c cools the metal body M1. The reference numeral53 in figures represents a water receptacle for water discharging fromthe first water outlet 52 b and the second water outlet 52 c. Andreference numeral 54 represents the discharge pipe connecting with thewater receptacle 53.

In the cooling unit 52, the water discharging from the first wateroutlet 52 b and the second water outlet 52 c cools the two sides of thelow deformation resistance region 30 which is produced by the heatingunit 51 provided between the first water outlet 52 b and the secondwater outlet 52 c. Especially, by adjusting the arrangement of the firstwater outlet 52 b and the second water outlet 52 c, the low deformationresistance region 30 can be caused to be a much smaller region than thelength of the metal body M1 in its extending direction.

In this way, by making the width of the low deformation resistanceregion 30 much smaller along the extending direction of the metal bodyM1, it is easy to form severe shear deformation to thereby increase theefficiency of fining the microstructure. And it is possible to decreasethe residual strain or residual deformation resulted from the vibration.

Furthermore, the cooling unit 52 can cool the low deformation resistanceregion 30 heated by the heating unit 51 quickly to proceed quenching,thereby to increase the hardness of the metal body M1 in which themicrostructure has been fined.

The metal body M1 is cooled by not only water, but also air orexcitation, so long as the means can increase the deformation resistanceof the metal body M1.

In the present embodiment, while the cooling unit 52 is provided betweenthe second limiting body 45 and the heating unit 51 comprising the highfrequency heating coil, and the cooling unit 52 is also provided betweenthe heating unit 51 and vibration supplier 47, the second limiting body45 and the vibration supplier body 47 can be provided closer to theheating unit 51 than the cooling unit 52, and the interval between thesecond limiting body 45 and the vibration supplier 47 is made to shortas far as possible.

In this way, by making the interval between the second limiting body 45and the vibration supplier 47 short as far as possible, it is possibleto prevent the vibration energy supplied by the vibration supplier 47from dissipating to the regions other than the low deformationresistance region 30. It is effective to form the shear deformation ofthe low deformation resistance region 30 because of the vibration.Moreover, the cooling function may be additionally provided in the lowerroll 45 c and the upper roll 45 d of the second limiting body 45 forholding the metal body M1, and the lower roll 50 a and the upper roll 50b of the transmitting unit 50 of the vibration supplier 47 as well.

In the SVSP device constructed as aforementioned, when themicrostructure is caused to fine by the vibration, the metal M1 is fedthrough the fixing section 41, the shear deformation section 42, avibration section 43 orderly. The cooling unit 52 cools the lowdeformation resistance region 30 of the metal body M1 passing throughthe shear deformation section 42, at the same time, the heating unit 51heats the metal body M1, and the low deformation resistance region 30 isproduced,

In this case, the heating of the heating unit 51 proceeds until thetemperature of the low deformation resistance region 30 is higher thanthe recovery softening temperature of the strain produced in the metalbody M1, and the recrystallization temperature of the microstructure.Once the recovery or recrystallization temperature is got, the sheardeformation will produce in the low deformation resistance region 30 bymaking the non-low deformation resistance region of the metal body M1vibrate by means of the vibration supplier. In addition, the heattemperature of the metal body M1 obtained by the heating unit 51 ishigher than the recovery or recrystallization temperature, but it ispreferred that it is controlled to be lower than the temperaturebeginning to influence the grain refinement of the microstructure.

In this way, by making the low deformation resistance region 30 produceshear deformation, the outer shape of the metal M1 will hardly change,so the microstructure is rendered fine.

Also in the present embodiment, the vibration supplier 47 makes thenon-low deformation resistance region of the metal body M1 vibrate alongthe thickness direction of the metal body M1, that is, up and down, or,as shown in FIG. 2, along the width direction of the metal body M1, thatis right and left direction, and the vibration may be the compoundvibration performed by combining the vibration along the up and downdirection and the vibration along the right and left direction,accordingly, the vibration supplier 47 can be constructed properly.

In this way, the vibration supplied to the metal body M1 is not limitedto the vibration in up and down direction or the right and leftdirection approximately orthogonal to the extending direction of themetal body M1, so long as the vibration involves the vibrationcomponents in up and down direction or the right and left directionapproximately orthogonal to the extending direction of the metal bodyM1.

In the SVSP device of the present embodiment, as stated above, the sheardeformation is generated in the low deformation resistance region 30 bythe vibration supplied by the vibration section 43. While the metal bodyM1 is fed along the extending direction, the position of the lowdeformation resistance region 30 of the metal body M1 is shifted. Themetal body M1 is treated continuously by the vibration to thereby makethe microstructure more fine within a large range.

Especially, the metal body M1 extending in one direction is traversed bythe low deformation resistance region 30, thereby the metal body M1 canbe conducted uniformly shear treatment, and it is possible to make themicrostructure of metal body M1 fine uniformly.

Furthermore, according to circumstances, the magnitude of the shearstress resulted from the shear deformation in the required position ofthe metal body M1 could be adjusted, thus it is possible to adjust thefineness of the microstructure, and to adjust the strength or ductilityof the metal body M1. Therefore, the metal body M1 with partly increasedstrength or ductility can be produced.

Moreover, when the SVSP device is provided in the last process of theforming apparatus for performing hot rolling, cold rolling or extrusionforming, it is possible to employ the rolling treatment or extrusiontreatment etc to make the metal body M1 drawn in the extending directionproduce shear deformation, to thereby make the microstructure fineeasily.

FIG. 10 shows a device for making the low deformation resistance regionin the metal body produce shear deformation by twisting the body. Thepresent inventor call this method, by which the low deformationresistance region is made to produce shear deformation to fine themicrostructure, as ┌STSP┘ (Severe Torsion Straining Process). FIG. 10shows a schematic explanatory drawing of one example of STSP device. Inthe present description, for the sake of explanation, the metal body M2is supposed to be a round bar extending in one direction, or it may be ahollow cylinder body.

The STSP device is so designed that a fixing section 61, a sheardeformation section 62 and a rotation section 63 are provided on theupper surface of the base 60 along the extending direction of the metalbody M2.

The fixing section 61 comprises a first fixing wall 61 a and a secondfixing wall 61 b provided vertically on the upper surface of the base60, respectively. The fixing section 61 a and the second fixing wall 61b are made from a plate body with preset thickness, respectively, andthe first fixing wall 61 a and the second fixing wall 61 b approximatelyparallel to each other.

Moreover, the first fixing wall 61 a and the second fixing wall 61 b areprovided, respectively, with a hole through which the metal body M2passes. The fastening screws 61 c, 61 d are, respectively, provided atthe upper end of the first fixing wall 61 a and the second fixing wall61 b, and the tip ends of the fastening screws 61 c, 61 d abut againstthe circumference of the metal body M2 passing through the holes,thereby to fix the metal body M2.

In addition, the fixing section 61 is not limited to the structurecomprising the first fixing wall 61 a and the second fixing wall 61 b,so long as it can fix the metal body M2. So-called fixing the metal bodyM2 herein means to prevent the metal body M2 from rotating about thecentral axis of the metal body M2 in round bar shape.

The rotation section 63 comprises a first limiting wall 63 a locatedvertically on the upper surface of the base, a second limiting wall 63b, an advance and a retreat limiting body 63 c sandwiched between thefirst limiting wall 63 a and the second limiting wall 63 b, and arotating device (not shown in figures).

The first limiting wall 63 a and the second limiting wall 63 b are madefrom a plate body with preset thickness, respectively, and the firstlimiting wall 63 a and the second limiting wall 63 b approximatelyparallel to each other. Moreover, the first limiting wall 63 a and thesecond limiting wall 63 b are provided respectively with a hole throughwhich the metal body M2 passes. The holes are used for passing the metalbody M2.

The advance and retreat limiting body 63 c has a length which isapproximately equal to the interval between the first limiting wall 63 aand the second limiting wall 63 b, and comprises a cylinder body mountedaround the metal body M2. The advance and retreat limiting body 63 c ismounted around the metal body M2, and the fastening screws 63 d screwedinto the advance and retreat limiting body 63 c abut against thecircumference of the metal body M2 passing through the advance andretreat limiting body 63 c, to thereby to fix the advance and retreatlimiting body 63 c to the metal body M2.

As a result, when the non-low deformation resistance region of the metalbody M2 is caused to rotate as described hereafter, it is possible toprevent the translation of the metal body M2 in the extending directionbecause the advance and retreat limiting body 63 c is limited by thefirst limiting wall 63 a and the second limiting wall 63 b.

Various devices can be used as the rotating device to make the lowdeformation resistance region of the metal body M2 rotate, so long as itcan supply a preset torque to the metal body M2 on the side of therotation section 63 and at the same time makes the body M2 rotate. Inthe present embodiment, the end of the metal body M2 on one side of therotation section 63 is coupled with a motor acting as a rotating device(not shown).

The shear deformation section 62 comprises a heating unit 64 for heatingthe metal body M2 to a preset temperature and a cooling unit 65 forcooling the metal body M2 in order to make the low shear deformationresistance region 30′, which is produced by the heating of the heatingunit 64 in the metal body M2, form a preset width size.

In the present embodiment, the heating unit 64 comprises a highfrequency heating coil which winds around the metal body M2 with apreset number of turns. The deformation resistance is reduced by heatingthe metal body M2 to a preset temperature, thereby, the low deformationresistance region 30′ is produced. In addition, the heating unit 64 isnot limited to the high frequency heating coil, or it may use electronbeam, plasma, laser, electromagnetic induction etc to heat, or use agasses burner to heat, or use electricity short circuit to heat.Especially, when the electron beam is used as heating unit 64, it ispossible to make the width of the low deformation resistance region 30′in the extending direction of the metal body M2 be very small, and makethe larger shear stress act on the low deformation resistance region30′, thereby it is possible to make the microstructure even more fine.

The cooling unit 65 comprises a first water outlet 65 b and a secondwater outlet 65 c for discharging the water from the water supply pipe65 a, and the water discharging from the first water outlet 65 b and thesecond water outlet 65 c cools the metal body M2. The reference numeral66 in FIG. 10 represents water receptacle for containing the waterdischarging from the first water outlet 65 b and the second water outlet65 c, and the reference numeral 67 represents the discharge pipeconnecting with the water receptacle 66.

In the cooling unit 65, the water from the first water outlet 65 b andthe second water outlet 65 c cools the two sides of the low deformationresistance region 30 which is produced by the heating unit 64 providedbetween the first water outlet 65 b and the second water outlet 65 c.Especially, the low deformation resistance region 30′ can be caused tobe a much smaller region than the length of the metal body M2 in itsextending direction by adjusting the arrangement of the first wateroutlet 65 b and the second water outlet 65 c.

In this way, by making the width of the low deformation resistanceregion 30′ much smaller along the extending direction of the metal body,it is easy to form severe shear deformation in the low deformationresistance region 30′ to thereby increase the efficiency of fining themicrostructure. In addition, when the low deformation resistance region30′ is twisted by the rotating device, the twist discontinuity of thelow deformation resistance region 30′ can be prevented. Furthermore, itis possible to decrease the residual strain or residual deformation ofthe shear deformation in the low deformation resistance region 30′resulted from twist.

Furthermore, the cooling unit 65 can cool the low deformation resistanceregion 30′ heated by the heating unit 64 quickly to proceed quenching,thereby to increase the hardness of the metal body M2 in which themicrostructure has been fined.

It is preferred that the width of the low deformation resistance region30′ is three or less times longer than the sectional width of thecross-section orthogonal to the extending direction of the metal bodyM2. By providing the low deformation resistance region 30′ with suchconditions, the deformation of the low deformation resistance region 30′following the twist is suppressed to a minimum, at the same time, thelarger shear deformation can be produced, thereby the efficiency offining the microstructure is increased.

The above cooling unit 65 is but not limited to the water-cooling unit,and it may use air or excitation etc, so long as the means can make theregion heated by the heating unit 64 be a quenchable region. Especially,when the electron beam is used in the heating unit 64, the cooling canproceed by itself in a vacuum environment.

In the STSP device of the present embodiment and the above SVSP device,the metal bodies M1, M2 are heated by the heating unit 64, 51 in theatmosphere, but the metal bodies M1, M2 can be heated in the inert gas.The heating may also proceed in the reactant gas environment in whichthe reactant gas reacts with the heating region of the metal body M1,M2, or in the decompression condition or in the pressurization conditioninstead of the atmospheric condition.

Especially, during heating the metal body M2, M1 in the reactant gasenvironment, there may be a situation in which the strong strain or thesurface coating resulted from the reaction occurred between the heatingregion of the metal body M2, M1 and the reactant gas will produce.

Furthermore, in the case where the metal body M2 is a hollow cylinderbody, the inert gas or reactant gas is supplied in high pressure stateor in reduced pressure state to the hollow portion of the metal body M2in the STSP device, thereby creating a strong strain in the lowdeformation resistance region 30′.

In addition, inert liquid or reactant liquid is alternatively usedinstead of inert gas or reactant gas.

The STSP device is constituted as mentioned above. When the lowdeformation resistance region 30′ in the metal body M2 will be twistedand accordingly the microstructure will be rendered fine, the metal bodyM2 is mounted on the STSP device, then the cooling unit 65 cools theboth sides of the low deformation resistance region 30′, while theheating unit 64 heats the low deformation resistance region 30′.

In this case, the heating of the heating unit 64 proceeds until thetemperature of the low deformation resistance region 30′ is higher thanthe recovery softening temperature of the strain produced in the metalbody M2 and/or the recrystallization temperature of the microstructure.Once the recovery recrystallization temperature is got, the non-lowdeformation resistance region will rotate about the central axis of themetal body M2 and the low deformation resistance region 30′ will twistby means of the rotating device.

The rotation speed of the non-low deformation resistance region causedby the rotating device is 1-20 rpm. The rotation number of turns is atleast ½, the more the number is, the larger the shear deformation is,and the efficiency of fining the microstructure can be increased.

In addition, the heat temperature of the metal body M2 obtained by theheating unit 64 is higher than the recovery recrystallizationtemperature, but it is preferred that it is controlled to be lower thanthe temperature beginning to influence the grain refinement of the metalbody.

After the low deformation resistance region 30′ is thus twisted, saidlow deformation resistance region 30 should be cooled. In aboveembodiment, the structure of STSP device is such designed that the metalbody M2 can not move along the extending direction, but the metal bodyM2 can do that, thereby it is possible to shift the position of the lowdeformation resistance region 30′ of the metal body M2, and the sheartreatment is supplied continuously to the metal body M2 by twisting, sothe metal body M2 which makes the microstructure more fine within alarge range is obtained.

Furthermore, according to circumstances, with respect to each of the lowdeformation resistance region 30′ at the required position of the metalbody M2, it is possible to adjust the fineness of the microstructure byadjusting the speed of the rotating device for the metal body M2, and toadjust the strength or ductility of the metal body M2. Therefore, themetal body M2 with partly increased strength or ductility can beproduced.

FIG. 11 shows an electron micrograph of aluminum alloy, i.e. 5056,before treated by the above STSP device, and FIG. 12 shows an electronmicrograph of A5056 after treated by the STSP device. It will beunderstood that it is possible to make the crystal grain of themicrostructure fine from 60-70 μm to 5 μm or less by making the metalbody M2 have shear deformation.

And the fineness of the crystal grain is preset by analyzing the heatingand cooling conditions. For example, if the electron beam can only heatthe very narrow region and can heat the deeper portion of the region,while the portion outside the region can keep low temperature by coolingitself, the boundary between the low deformation resistance regions andthe non-low deformation resistance regions should be made to be verynarrow, and the strong strain should be made to focus on the lowdeformation resistance regions, therefore, it is possible to make thecrystal grain size to be tens nanometer to ten nanometer.

And FIG. 13 shows a comparison result of the yield strength, tensilestrength, uniform elongation rate between the metal body, i.e. S45C,treated by the above STSP device and the metal subjected to thetempering treatment similar to the thermal process of the treatment ofthe STSP device. It is observed that, by treatment of the STSP device,the uniform elongation rate (EI) cannot be increased, and the yieldstrength and the tensile strength can be improved.

And FIG. 14 shows a comparison result of the yield strength, tensilestrength, and uniform elongation rate between the metal body, i.e.A1506C, treated by the above STSP device and the metal body subjected tothe tempering treatment similar to the thermal process of the treatmentof the STSP device. It is observed that, just similar to the case of theS45C, by treatment of the STSP device, the uniform elongation rate cannot be increased, and the yield strength and the tensile strength can beimproved.

In this way, the low deformation resistance regions 30, 30′ arepartially produced in the metal body by the above SVSP device and theSTSP device, are caused to have shear deformation and are supplied withstrong strain, thereby, it is possible to fine the microstructure, andto improve the strength or ductility of the metal bodies M1, M2.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, when the metal body is a laminated body10 made by laminated several of the metal layers, the metal contained inthe two adjacent the metal layers is fined and, at the same time, isjoined each other, by doing this, it is possible to obtain an integratedmetal body, and to provide a metal body which compositions are changedin the laminated direction of the metal layers.

Or, as shown in the FIG. 5 which is a cross-section of the metal body, anotch of the first metal rod 24 obtained by cutting a portion of theround bar receives the second metallic material 25, and an integratedcomposite metal rod 26 is got. It is possible to join the first metalrod 24 with the second metallic material 25 mechanically to produce anew alloy by treating the composite metal rod 26 with STSP device.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, when the metal body is a calcination body16 combined with several kinds of metal powder, it is possible to obtaina tightly integrated metal body by making the microstructure of themetal powder fine and join concurrently. Especially, it is possible forthe compound metal which cannot be made by the fusion method to joinmechanically by SVSP device or STSP device to produce a new alloy.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, when the metal body is a porous body 17 inwhich the holes are filled with metal powder 18 and has became a filledbody 19, it is possible to obtain an integrated metal body by making themicrostructure of the metal fine and join concurrently. Especially, itis possible for the compound metal which cannot be made by the fusionmethod to join mechanically by SVSP device or STSP device to produce anew alloy.

And as shown in FIG. 4, the metal rod can be made to be an integratedmetal body by bundling a plurality of the metal wire together to form awire bundle 23 and render the microstructure of the metal wire finewhile joining together. Especially, it is possible for the compoundmetal, which cannot be made by the fusion method, to join mechanicallyby SVSP device or STSP device to produce a new alloy.

Especially, the metal body is made to be a hollow cylinder before itsmicrostructure is fined by the SVSP or STSP device, and after fining thecylinder metal body is cut and can become a plate body. Thereby it iseasy to provide a plate metal which microstructure has fined.

In the above SVSP device and the STSP device, by adjusting the length ofthe low deformation resistance regions 30, 30′ in the extendingdirection of the metal body M1, M2, and supplying the low deformationresistance regions 30, 30′ with the shear deformation, it is possible tomake a portion of the low deformation resistance regions 30, 30′, suchas the central area, or the both sides or either side of the lowdeformation resistance regions 30, 30′ proceed the shear deformation.

In addition, in the STSP device, it is realized from the structure, whenthe rotating device rotates the non-low deformation resistance region,the region which microstructure is not fined adequately will appearbecause there is no adequate shear deformation in the part of the lowdeformation resistance region 30 around the virtual axis of rotation.

Therefore, in the STSP device of the present embodiment, the metal bodyM2 is heated by the heating unit 64 to produce the low deformationresistance region 30, the heating of the heating unit 64 proceedswithout taking the virtual axis of rotation as center.

In other words, in the case of the heating unit 64 comprising the highfrequency heating coil as that in the present embodiment, the centralaxis of the coil offsets from the virtual axis of rotation of therotation section 63 for rotating the metal body M2, and it is possibleto heat the low deformation resistance region 30 without focusing on thevirtual axis of rotation region, thereby to prevent the region withoutbeing fined from appearing in the region around the virtual axis ofrotation, and in the STSP, it is also possible to fine themicrostructure uniformly.

In this way, it is possible to fine reliably the microstructure of theregion around the virtual axis of rotation by adjusting the arrangementof the heating unit 64 to make the heating distribution not to take thevirtual axis of rotation as center.

The method of preventing the grain refinement of the microstructure inthe STSP device from not being uniformly is also used as follows: tomake one non-low deformation resistance region 30 and another non-lowdeformation resistance region between which the low deformationresistance region 30′ is sandwiched move relative to each other alongthe direction approximately orthogonal to the extending direction of themetal body M1, by doing that, the virtual axis of rotation region of thelow deformation resistance region 30′ appears shear deformation, therebythe non-uniform fineness of the microstructure is avoided.

That is, the vibration supplier 47 of the SVSP device may be mounted inthe STSP device to twist and vibrate the low deformation resistanceregion 30′ simultaneously.

Or, by offsetting the virtual axis of rotation from the geometricalcenter of the metal body M2 with a round bar shape, the sheardeformation will occur in the region near the virtual axis of rotationof the low deformation resistance region 30′, thereby the non-uniformfineness of the microstructure is avoided.

FIG. 16 shows schematically a modified example of the above STSP devicewhich is provided with a supply section 70′ for supplying the metal bodyM2′ and a receiving section 71 for receiving the metal body M2′ whichhas been subjected to the shear deformation.

When the supply section 70 supplies the metal body M2 wound in a desiredreel, the metal body M2′ is drawn by a pulling tool (not shown infigures) to be a straight line and is fed concurrently.

In the receiving section 71, the metal body M2′ which has been subjectedto the shear deformation is wound in a reel by a winding tool (not shownin figures).

In the STSP device, a plurality of shear deformation sections 62′ areprovided in the extending direction of the metal body M2′ and separatedfrom the supply section 70 and receiving section 71 with a presetinterval, respectively, and the rotation section 63′ is provided betweenthe two adjacent shear deformation sections 62′. The rotation section63′ rotates the metal body M2′ about the virtual axis of rotationapproximately parallel to the extending direction of the metal body M2′,and the shear deformation sections 62′ can be subjected to sheardeformation.

In the shear deformation section 62′, it is provided with a highfrequency coil 64′ for heating the metal body M2′, a first water outlet65 b′ and a second water outlet 65 c′ for discharging the cooling waterfor cooling the metal body M2′. The high frequency coil 64′ is locatedbetween the first water outlet 65 b′ and the second water outlet 65 c′,the region of the metal body M2′ heated by the high frequency coil 64′can be minimized.

In the present embodiment, a pair of rollers is provided in the rotationsection 63′ for contacting with the metal body M2′ and rotating themetal body M2′. Additionally, the rollers of the two adjacent rotationsections 63′ rotate in the directions opposite to each other.

In such STSP device, the supply section 70 and the receiving section 71as a feeding mechanism feed the metal body M2′, thereby the metal bodyM2′ is subjected to the shear deformation for several times.

Or, for example, in the case where N shear deformation sections 62′ areprovided in the metal body M2′ along its extending direction with apreset interval T, if the supply section 70 and the receiving section 71are used as carry mechanism for the metal body M2 to feed the metal bodyM2′ with a preset interval and a constant distance, then it is possibleto conduct the shear deformation in a range T×N in length at one time.Therefore, after finishing the shear deformation and feeding the metalbody M2′ for a T×N length, the shear deformation proceeds again. Themetal body M2 is fed with a preset interval and a constant distancerepeatedly. Thereby the productivity is increased.

Additionally, in such a case N is even number, alternatively, it is notas shown in FIG. 16, not all of the rotation sections 63′ are providedbetween the shear deformation sections 62′, but the rotation sections63′ are alternately provided between the adjacent shear deformationsections 62′.

As mentioned above, since the metal body has high strength after itsmicrostructure is rendered fine, it will carry out to reduce the wholeweight when the metal body is used for vehicle parts. The reduction ofthe vehicle weight is beneficial for the fuel consumption.

In this way, the metal body used for vehicle parts is manufactured asfollows.

First, the metal sheet shall be performed pre-treatment. During thepretreatment, heating and then cooling the metal sheet adjusts theextent of uniphase, the dissipation of the metal grain constituting themetal sheet, the residual stress of the metal sheet and etc.

Next, the metal sheet with the pre-treatment will be worked by the SVSPdevice. When the microstructure of the metal sheet is rendered fineuniformly, the metal sheet with high strength and high ductility isformed.

Especially, in the case where the metal sheet is made from aluminumalloy, it is possible to produce a large piece of aluminum alloy sheet,and to produce a cover or shroud with complicated shape by forging.Thereby the cost of manufacture is reduced obviously.

Especially, because the cover or shroud can be integrally formed withflanges or jogged parts for connecting with other elements whileforging, accordingly, integrate forming of the plurality of elements canreduce cost, and it is possible to increase the structural strength.

As stated above, it may not only produce the metal sheet to be arequired metal body in the SVSP device, the metal body which has alreadybecome a required round bar with pretreatment but also can be worked inthe STSP device, thereby a metal body with high strength and highductility is obtained because the microstructure of the metal body isrendered fine uniformly.

Because of the high ductility of such metal body, the metal body, afterbeing separated into different required portions, can be formed as abodywork frame plug bush 80 with complicated shape by the forging metalmold with many cylinders, as shown in FIG. 18, the bodywork frame plugbushes 80 of the present embodiment are used for the joining part of thevarious frames of the bodywork frame 90. Usually, various frames areconnected by welding in the connection portions, but it does not needwelding operation by means of the bodywork frame plug bushes 80 as shownin FIG. 17, and it is possible to reduce the cost of manufacture. Inaddition, it is much more than that by welding to increase the structurestrength, thereby, its reliability is increased.

In the bodywork frame plug bush 80 of FIG. 17, a first jogged portion85, a second jogged portion 86, a third jogged portion 87 and a fourthjogged portion 88, which extend along the preset directions, are usedfor receiving a first frame 81, a second frame 82, a third frame 83 anda fourth frame 84, respectively.

In addition, insertion holes 85 h, 86 h, 87 h and 88 h, which are formedby inserting cylinders at the time of forging respectively, are providedin the jogged portions 85, 86, 87 and 88, respectively. The front endsof each frames 81, 82, 83 and 84 are inserted into the insertion holes85 h, 86 h, 87 h and 88 h to connect with each other.

In another use mode, for a round bar part, such as a steering shaft,fining the microstructure is performed by SVSP method; thereby the roundbar with high strength can be provided. In addition, it is possible notonly to fine the microstructure of the round bar uniformly, but also tofine or not to fine a portion of the microstructure of the round bar,thereby to make the strength have intended partial difference.

In this way, in the case where the steering shaft is formed by the roundbar with the different strength, the steering shaft is purposely forcedto fracture by shock when the accident occurred, thereby it is possibleto provide shock absorption.

In the case of forming screw thread, after fining the microstructure ofthe round bar by the SVSP method, the metal body is rotated by SVSPmethod to form the screw thread. Thereby it is easy to form screws withhigh strength.

In a similar manner, in the case of forming a transmission gear, afterfining the microstructure of the metal body by the SVSP method, themetal body is rotated by SVSP method to form the gear teeth by requiredforging die, thereby it is easy to form the gears with high strength.

As stated above, not only can the metal body with fined microstructurebe used for vehicle parts, but also can be used for the sputter targetmaterial of the sputtering equipment used in the semiconductormanufacturing process.

Especially, because the metal body having the required uniformcomponents can be obtained while the microstructure is rendered finerelatively, a homogeneous metal film can be formed on the upper surfaceof the semiconductor substrate, and such sputter target material can bemanufactured with a low cost compared with ECAP method.

The sputter target material is manufactured as follows.

First, the metal sheet having required components must be performedpretreatment. During the pre-treatment, the metal sheet is heated andthen cooled to adjust the phase, the dissipation of the metal grainconstituting the metal sheet and the residual stress of the metal sheetand etc.

Next, the metal sheet is worked in the SVSP device after thepre-treatment, thereby the microstructure of the metal sheet is renderedfine uniformly.

After the microstructure is rendered fine in the SVSP device, the metalsheet is rolled in normal temperature, cold forged, hot forged, or dieforged, etc. Then, the crystal orientation of the fined microstructureis adjusted while forming the shape of the target material.

In this way, by adjusting the crystal orientation of the finedmicrostructure, it is possible to provide the sputter target material,which can form uniform metal film on the upper surface of thesemiconductor substrate.

Further, in the case where the metal sheet is formed to be a targetmaterial shape, while the metal sheet is formed to be an approximatelydisk-like member, the cooling grooves are formed on the back thereof.Owing to the grooves formed concurrently, it is possible to reduce theprocess for manufacturing sputter target material, and it is possible toprovide a low-cost sputter target material.

Especially, the forming performance of the metal sheet is increasedbecause of the microstructure being fined in SVSP device, therefore, itis possible to produce the grooves with high precision by cold forgingor hot forging.

Additionally, after the microstructure of the metal sheet is renderedfine uniformly in SVSP device, it is also possible to heat the metalsheet to a temperature, at which the fined metallic crystal doesn'tintend to become coarse-grain, thus to adjust the residual stress of themetal sheet.

In another manufacturing method that can be used, the metal body used asthe target material is made to be a bar-shape metal body with requiredcomponents.

First, the metal bar is subjected to the same pre-treatment as abovemetal sheet, thereby it is possible to adjust the phase and the particledispersion of the grain of the metal bar, further, to adjust theresidual stress of the metal bar etc.

Then, the metal sheet having been subjected to the pretreatment isworked in the STSP device, thus the microstructure of the metal bar isrendered fine uniformly.

Especially, after the microstructure being fined in the STSP device, themetal bar is cut in preset length. Then, the metal sheet is formed bycold forging or hot forging.

The metal sheet as formed above is subjected to treatment in SVSP deviceso that the microstructure of the metal sheet is rendered fine further.Then, in the same manners as above-mentioned, the metal sheet is rolledin normal temperature, cold forged, hot forged, or die forged, etc, sothat the crystal orientation of the fined microstructure is adjustedwhile forming the shape of the target material.

The metal body can also be produced as sputter target material by thecombination of the STSP method and the SVSP method, and rendered itsmicrostructure fine much more, thereby a sputter target material with ahomogeneous metal film can be formed on the upper surface of thesemiconductor substrate.

Especially, the metal bar can be treated by STSP method to make thecomponents homogenization. Furthermore, if the sputter target materialis made by the more homogenizing metal body, a sputter target materialwith a homogeneous metal film can be formed on the upper surface of thesemiconductor substrate.

Not only is the said SVSP method or STSP method used for manufacturingthe vehicle parts or sputter target material, but also it can provide amaterial or parts with improved property.

In the case where the metal body is magnetic, the machining property ofthe metal body can be increased through fining the microstructure bymeans of the SVSP method or STSP method. Thereby it can proceed formicro-machining of the fine wire. Moreover, it is possible to increasethe magnetic susceptibility according to the circumstances.

In the case where the metal body is a memory alloy, the machiningproperty of the metal body can be increased through fining themicrostructure by means of the SVSP method or STSP method. Thereby itcan proceed for further micro-machining of the fine wire. Especially,when the shape memory alloy is used to form the screws for assemblingthe electronics, the teeth of the screw will be disappeared by the shapememory when the electronics is discarded, thereby it is very easy todisassemble.

In the case where the metal body is a metal hydride, fining themicrostructure of the metal body by the SVSP method or STSP method canincrease the ability for storing the hydrogen. Further, the structurewith Hydrogen storing function may be formed by increasing the machiningproperty to form different kinds of shapes.

In the case where the metal body is a vibration damping alloy, finingthe microstructure of the metal body by the SVSP method or STSP methodcan increase the machining property, thereby it can produce a more fineshape. Especially, the vibration damping alloy can be used for componentparts of the sound unit, such as speaker, and it is possible to improvethe timbre.

In the case where the metal body is an electrothermal material, finingthe microstructure of the metal body by the SVSP method or STSP methodcan increase the deformability, thereby it can proceed a more fineshape.

In the case where the metal body is a biological material, fining themicrostructure of the metal body by the SVSP method or STSP method willincrease the machining property, thereby it can proceed a more fineshape.

Especially, the titanium alloy is used for biological material in thepast, and there is a problem which the machining property of titanium isvery bad because of the high hardness and thus the forming cost is toohigh. But when fining the microstructure by the SVSP method or the STSPmethod, titanium alloy can also be formed by forging, thereby it ispossible to form a titanium alloy part in a preset shape with low cost.

In addition, titanium alloy which microstructure is rendered fine bySVSP method or STSP method may be used for a material with low Young'smodulus and high strength, and it is also possible to improve thebiology compatibility.

In this way, for the metal body treated by the SVSP method or the STSPmethod, not only is the ductility improved, but also the machiningproperty is improved, furthermore, the strength is enhanced.Accordingly, it is possible to use the lighter material to form theparts with same strength, and make the transportation equipments such asship, plane or vehicle, or buildings such as a very high officebuilding, bridge and so on much lighter.

As stated above, according to the metal working method and the metalbody obtained by the metal working method of the present invention, itis possible to provide a metal body with superior forging deformabilityowing to continuously refining the metal with high strength and highductility. In addition, it is also possible to produce an alloy with newcomponents which cannot be manufactured by conventional fusion method,therefore a new metal may be provided. Especially, according to themetal-containing ceramic body obtained by the metal work method of thepresent invention, it is possible to provide a metal-containing ceramicbody in which the metal components and the non-metal components can becombined firmly and uniformly.

Moreover, according to the sputter target material obtained by the metalwork of the present invention, it is possible to provide a sputtertarget material, which price is low and the homogeneous metal film canbe refined on the semiconductor substrate.

1. A method of working metal comprising the following steps: locallyreducing the deformation resistance of a metal body extending in onedirection; forming a first low deformation resistance region and asecond low deformation resistance region crossing the metal body with apreset interval; and subjecting the first low deformation resistanceregion and the second low deformation resistance region to sheardeformation, thereby making the microstructure of the metal body fine.2. The method of working a metal according to claim 1, wherein a non-lowdeformation resistance region sandwiched between the first lowdeformation resistance region and the second low deformation resistanceregion is caused to vibrate along the direction approximately orthogonalto the extending direction of the metal body.
 3. The method of working ametal according to claim 1, wherein a non-low deformation resistanceregion sandwiched between the first low deformation resistance regionand the second low deformation resistance region is caused to vibratealong a first direction approximately orthogonal to the extendingdirection of the metal body, and vibrate simultaneously along a seconddirection approximately orthogonal to the extending direction of themetal body and the first direction, respectively.
 4. The method ofworking a metal according to claim 1, wherein a non-low deformationresistance region sandwiched between the first low deformationresistance region and the second low deformation resistance region iscaused to rotate about a virtual axis of rotation approximately parallelto the extending direction of the metal body.
 5. The method of working ametal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first lowdeformation resistance region and the second low deformation resistanceregion are formed by heating up the first and second low deformationregions to different temperatures.
 6. A metal body, extending in onedirection, wherein a first low deformation resistance region and asecond low deformation resistance region crossing the metal body with apreset interval are formed by locally reducing the deformationresistance temporarily forms, and the microstructure of the metal bodywith grain refinement is obtained by making the first low deformationresistance region and the a second low deformation resistance regionsuffer to shear deformation.
 7. The metal body according to claim 6,wherein a non-low deformation resistance region sandwiched between thefirst low deformation resistance region and the second low deformationresistance region is caused to vibrate along the direction approximatelyorthogonal to the extending direction of the metal body.
 8. The metalbody according to claim 6, wherein a non-low deformation resistanceregion sandwiched between the first low deformation resistance regionand the second low deformation resistance region is caused to vibratealong a first direction approximately orthogonal to the extendingdirection of the metal body, at the same time vibrate along a seconddirection approximately orthogonal to the extending direction of themetal body and the first direction.
 9. The metal body according to claim6, wherein a non-low deformation resistance region sandwiched betweenthe first low deformation resistance region reach the second lowdeformation resistance region is caused to rotate about a virtual axisof rotation approximately parallel to the extending direction of themetal body.
 10. The metal body according to any one of claims 6 to 9,wherein the first low deformation resistance region and the second lowdeformation resistance region are formed by heating up the first andsecond low deformation regions to different temperatures.
 11. The metalbody according to claim 6, wherein the metal body is vehicle part. 12.The metal body according to claim 6, wherein the metal body is any oneof the following: a Sputter target material, a magnetic body, a shapememory alloy, a metal hydride, a vibration damping alloy, anelectrothermal material, a biological material, ship parts, aircraftcomponents, parts of load-carrying equipment except vehicles, buildingconstruction members.